Spring cushion shoe sole



May 17, 1966 R. L. MACK 3,251,145

SPRING CUSHION SHOE SOLE Filed March 19, 1964 25! 06/ /422 2??? E 10 @Mm g. 911w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,251,145 SPRING CUSHION SHOE SOLE Richard L. Mack, 8027 E. Columbus Ave., Scottsdale, Ariz. Filed Mar. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 353,122 2 Claims. (Cl. 36-78) This invention pertains to improvements in spring cushion soles for walking, jumping, hiking and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a spring cushion shoe sole to soften walking on hard surfaces.

Another object is to provide a shoe sole of special spring cushion design to liven up the step and gate of the user.

'A further object is to provide a spring cushion shoe sole incorporating a combined guide and snu'bber dashpot to enhance the operation of the device and increase the durability and efficiency of the apparatus.

Further features and advantages of this invention wi l appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing a spring cushion shoe sole incorporating the features (If this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a spring cushion shoe sole comprising a ground plate and a shoe plate 11, the latter having suitable straps 12 and 13 for securing the wearers foot to the top surface 14 of the shoe plate 11.

Fixed to and upstanding from the ground plate 10 are the guide tubes.15 in which are slidingly mounted the guide pins 16 fixed at their upper ends to the shoe plate so as to accurately guide the shoe plate 11 in its relative up and down movement with respect to the ground plate 10. Small bleed holes 17 are formed through the guide tubes closely adjacent the top surface 18 of the ground plate which together with the sliding fit of the guide plungers 16 in the tubes provides a shock absorber or dashpot restraint on the relative movement of the ground and shoe plate members of the device.

Fixed to the ground plate 10 and upstanding therefrom are the spring sleeves 19 in which are slidably mounted the spring plungers 20 fixed at their upper ends to the bottom surface 21 of the shoe plate and extending downwardly to slidingly operate in the bore 22 of the shoe plate 11 to normally hold the plates 10 and 11 in the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

A wearer, with one of the above described spring cushion shoe soles on each foot, can walk, run or climb with a feeling of buoyancy in executing these activities with speed and comfort.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A spring cushion shoe sole comprising in combination:

(a) a ground plate,

(b) a shoe plate,

(c) guide means interconnected between said plates,

(d) dashpot means incorporated in said guide means,

(e) spring sleeve and plunger means interconnected between said plates,

(f) stop means in said last mentioned means to limit travel of said plates from each other,

(g) and resilient means to yieldingly urge said plates away from each other and against said stop means.

2. A spring cushion shoe sole comprising in combination:

(a) a ground plate,

(b) a shoe plate,

(0) guide means interconnected between said plates,

(d) dashpot means incorporated in said guide means,

(e) spring sleeve and plunger means interconnected between said plates,

(f) stop means in said last mentioned means to limit travel of said plates from each other,

(g) and compression spring means around said spring sleeve and plunger means engaging the top of said ground plate and the bottom of said shoe plate to yieldingly urge said plates apart and against said stop means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,389,416 8/1921 Zertuche 36-7.8 1,679,046 7/ 1928 Menefee 36-7.8 1,736,609 11/1929 Letourneau 36-78 2,343,489 3/1944 Westmaas 367.8 2,837,840 6/1958 Kerpel 36-7.8

FOREIGN PATENTS 541,451 5/1922 France.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SPRING CUSHION SHOE SOLE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A GROUND PLATE, (B) A SHOE PLATE, (C) GUIDE MEANS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID PLATES, (D) DASHPOT MEANS INCORPORATED IN SAID GUIDE MEANS, (E) SPRING SLEEVE AND PLUNGER MEANS INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID PLATES, (F) STOP MEANS IN SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS TO LIMIT TRAVEL OF SAID PLATES FROM EACH OTHER, (G) AND RESILIENT MEANS TO YIELDINGLY URGE SAID PLATES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND AGAINST SAID STOP MEANS. 